PHOTO OF DWARF GALAXY UGC-5497

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured this view of the dwarf galaxy UGC 5497, which looks a bit like salt sprinkled on black velvet in this image. The object is a compact blue dwarf galaxy that is infused with newly formed clusters of stars. The bright, blue stars that arise in these clusters help to give the galaxy an overall bluish appearance that lasts for several million years until these fast-burning stars explode as supernovae. UGC 5497 is considered part of the M 81 group of galaxies, which is located about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major (The Great Bear). UGC 5497 turned up in a ground-based telescope survey back in 2008 looking for new dwarf galaxy candidates associated with Messier 81. Image Credit: ESA/NASA

ESA Portal - France - Grâce à Artemis, maintien de la connexion via l’espace

ESA Portal - France - Grâce à Artemis, maintien de la connexion via l’espace

TRIBUTE PAID TO WWII HERO MARINE CORPS SGT. AUDIE MURPHY

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
An honor guard soldier places a wreath next to the grave of Medal of Honor recipient Army Maj. Audie L. Murphy as Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, far left, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Military District of Washington chapter of the Sgt. Audie L. Murphy Club, pay tribute on the World War II hero's birthday at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., June 20, 2012. DOD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.  

Senior Enlisted Leader, Namesake Club Honor Audie Murphy
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
ARLINGTON, Va., June 21, 2012 - The military's top enlisted member joined a local chapter of the Sgt. Audie L. Murphy Club here yesterday in honoring the club's namesake on his birthday.
Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined the Military District of Washington Sergeant Audie L. Murphy Club in a wreath-laying ceremony to pay tribute to the American war hero, a Medal of Honor recipient, who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

"Eighty-eight years ago today," Battaglia said at the event, "we see a young man like Audie Leon Murphy who would become such a great American hero ... through his life – especially the life he served protecting our nation. [It's] quite impressive."

Battaglia noted that Murphy attained the rank of staff sergeant just a year and a half after joining the Army. He received a battlefield commission in October 1944, and rose to the rank of major.

"[But] Sergeant Audie Murphy wasn't someone about awards," Battaglia said. "He was about taking care of his men and women and getting the mission accomplished. And that's why I say ... it's befitting of me to ... recognize Sergeant Audie Murphy on his birthday, a very monumental date in the history of our ... armed forces. But [I'm also here to] thank the members of his club and the loyal and dedicated soldiers that continue to serve honorably and with distinguished contributions and volunteerism throughout their communities and neighborhoods."

Battaglia was joined by Army Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Taylor, president of the local chapter, who serves in the Office of the Secretary of Defense Mess.

"It is my honor today to honor the leader of our charge in the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club – Audie Leon Murphy," she said. "Today would be his 88th birthday. We welcome you all."
Other club members played prominent roles during the ceremony, including treasurer Army Staff Sgt. Tanner Welch, who recited Murphy's biography.

"Audie Murphy was killed in a plane crash on a mountain top in Roanoke, Va., May 28, 1971," Welch said. "Fittingly, his body was recovered two days later on Memorial Day."
"Audie may have been the last American war hero," he added. "He was the best combat soldier in the 200-plus year history of the United States."

Battaglia said Audie Murphy is buried next to "thousands and thousands of great American service men and women," but is special in his own right.

"I think his service in the Army goes beyond just that in the Army," he said after the ceremony, reflecting on what he has read about Murphy. "I'd like it to resonate throughout all the services. He wasn't worried about awards and decorations. The man was there to accomplish a mission, he was there to protect his country, and he was there to protect his men and women. And that's all he really cared about."

Club member Army Master Sgt. Flora McKnight, operations officer for the Military District of Washington, agreed with the sergeant major.

"We do this in order to honor Sergeant Audie Murphy," she said. "Through his abilities as a noncommissioned officer, he took care of soldiers, and that's what we do – we take care of soldiers and give back to the community.

"Through selflessness ... we have an opportunity to give back to others and to show others the correct way doing that," McKnight continued. "The selflessness comes from us giving back to our community – not only the military community, but our civilian community -- because we all form a bond."

Battaglia noted a personal connection. He served a year-long deployment in Iraq, starting in February 2007, with one of the 3rd Infantry Division brigades to which Murphy was assigned.

"He set a legacy that carries on today. ... I think all of our service members, not just soldiers ... can use Audie Murphy as an example to emulate," Battaglia said.

186 BALES OF MARIJUANA SIZED WITH EFFORTS COORDINATED BY USS NIMITZ

FROM:  U.S. NAVY
120616-N-ZZ999-032 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 16, 2012) Sailors in a rigid-hull inflatable boat from the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) retrieve 186 bales of marijuana, June 16, which were apparently destined for the United States. The counter narcotics effort was coordinated with crew from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Princeton (CG 59), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 75 and the Mexican navy. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)June 19, 2012 

USS Nimitz Coordinates Counter Narcotics Seizure
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robert Winn, USS Nimitz Public Affairs
PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The crew of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) coordinated efforts with USS Princeton (CG 59), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 75 and the Mexican navy to retrieve 186 bales of marijuana, June 16, which were apparently destined for the United States.

"The coordinated response of all hands involved was phenomenal," remarked Nimitz Strike Group Commander Rear Adm. Pete Gumataotao. "The combined efforts of each of our strike group components demonstrated the flexibility and capability that defines how we conduct business."

"This crew's response was amazing," said USS Nimitz Commanding Officer Capt. Jeff Ruth. "To operationally shift gears quickly and safely from carrier qualifications to a real-world response shows what true professionals work here."

At approximately 1:50 p.m., USS Nimitz starboard lookouts, spotted two surface vessels, or contacts, approximately four nautical miles away and reported the contacts up the chain of command. The USS Nimitz crew then coordinated with HSC-6 to send MH-60S Seahawk helicopter 613 to perform a visual identification (VID) on the vessels.

"The [helicopter] was already in the air acting as plane guard for flight ops," said USS Nimitz' tactical action officer at the time. "When the Seahawk got overhead, they reported two white single engine boats about 25 feet in length, which immediately began dumping black hefty bags over the side. The small boats raced up to about 25 knots and fled to the east."

As the two small vessels fled at 2:22 p.m., USS Princeton, part of Carrier Strike Group 11, sent their rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) to investigate and retrieve the bags as evidence.

Eighty bales of marijuana, each weighing approximately 100 pounds, were recovered at that time.

At 5:05 p.m. USS Nimitz' officer of the deck spotted a small craft at approximately three nautical miles, which also appeared to be dumping in the sea. The USS Princeton positioned HSM-75's Lone Wolf 722, which is assigned to the USS Princeton, flying as a spotter for the rigid hull inflatable boats, or RHIBs, for further investigation. This caused those craft to flee as well.

"I thought it was pretty cool," said an HSC-6 pilot in the air at the time of the second spotting. "Most of the time we're a just-in-case asset. It was cool to be part of a situation where none of our guys got hurt and we were able to be a part of something bigger."
USS Princeton and a Mexican naval ship that came on scene retrieved more than 186 bales. The bales were then transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Edisto for transport to shore.

The USS Nimitz Strike Group is operating in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California conducting carrier qualification operations.

U.S. SUPPORTS SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL ENERGY ACTION AGENDA

Photo Credit:  Wikimedia. 
FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. Support for the Sustainable Energy for All Global Action Agenda
Fact Sheet Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
June 20, 2012
The UN Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative represents an important opportunity for the international community to address issues critical to the future of sustainable development, energy access, and economic growth. Expanding the use of efficient and clean energy technologies is a priority of the Obama Administration, domestically and internationally, and increasing energy access is a central challenge facing the world.

The United States supports the principles of the Global Action Agenda developed by the SE4ALL High Level Group through existing and planned activities across a broad range of U.S. Government agencies. As reported elsewhere in official documents, the U.S. is providing substantial grant, loan and loan guarantee resources, from both Congressionally-appropriated funds and under loan and loan guarantee authorities, of about $2 billion in FY11 for clean energy. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress on activities in FY12 that will build on and sustain this USG priority. These funds are helping to create a sound policy, regulatory and institutional framework for project investment and financing from private and international sources as well as directly leveraging investment. Support for innovation and energy technology partnerships is also an important focus. In building viable and sustainable energy markets, U.S. support helps create opportunities for American exports in renewable energy, power generation and energy efficiency technologies.

Below are specific examples of on-going and planned U.S. Government support for the SE4All Global Action Agenda:

1. Technical Assistance for Improving the Enabling Environment
Sustainable Clean Energy Development: Within this overall U.S. effort, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department are promoting sustainable, low emissions development through a range of clean energy activities that have national, regional, and global components. One major activity involves cooperation with up to 20 countries in developing and implementing low emissions development strategies (LEDS) that emphasize energy efficiency and renewable energy. Other activities include supporting regional energy efficiency and power grid interconnection and market development efforts; promoting regulatory and business policies that create conditions for renewable and clean energy investment; and promoting global efforts to advance new, efficient energy technologies.

 2. Participation in Clean Energy Technology Partnerships
Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM): The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), supported by funding from the Department of State, serves as the Secretariat for the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), a high-level global forum to promote policies and programs that advance clean energy technology, to share lessons learned and best practices, and to encourage the transition to a global clean energy economy. Participating governments account for 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and 90 percent of global clean energy investment. The CEM’s 12 initiatives build on Technology Action Plans that were released by the Major Economies Forum Global Partnership in December 2009, which laid out best practice blueprints for action in key technology areas. Three of these initiatives are components of the SE4ALL Action Agenda. The Super-efficient Appliance and Equipment Deployment (SEAD) initiative creates a common technical foundation to allow governments to more easily adopt cost-effective appliance efficiency policies and programs. The Clean Energy Solutions Center serves as a first-stop clearinghouse of online clean energy resources, including policy best practices, data, and analysis tools, and shares these resources with a global forum of energy experts, policy makers, and other stakeholders. The Solutions Center offers online training, "live" ask-an-expert assistance to help countries tailor solutions to their needs and foster international collaboration on policy innovations. Global LEAP is a voluntary forum that brings together donor governments and development partners to share knowledge and best practices under a set of commonly held principles that encourage self-sustaining commercial markets for energy access solutions, with a particular focus on energy-efficient off-grid lighting. Funding commitments for these three initiatives in FY 10 and 11 total over $16 million.

Powering Agriculture: An Energy Grand Challenge for Development: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Duke Energy, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has launched a new program to develop and scale appropriate, clean energy solutions for farmers and agri-businesses in the developing world. The program will focus on technology and business model innovation and commercialization of solutions.

Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves: The United States is a founding member of this Alliance, an innovative initiative led by the United Nations Foundation and with over 400 public and private partners, including 34 countries, to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and combat climate change by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions. Roughly half of the U.S. contribution supports applied research on topics such as health benefits, technology development, stove testing, and adoption. The other half targets debt financing or insurance to support the manufacture, sale, and purchase of cookstoves. The Alliance’s ‘100 by 20’ goal calls for 100 million homes to adopt clean and efficient stoves and fuels by 2020.

3. Financing and Mobilization of Private Capital
OPIC: The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation offers a number of products to help investors finance projects in the developing world, including debt financing, risk insurance, and new coverage for power purchase agreements. OPIC lending for renewable energy reached $1.1 billion in FY11. The OPIC commitments normally leverage at least twice as much in private investments.

MCC: The Millennium Challenge Corporation enters into Compacts with a limited number of countries that provide grant assistance to support their reform efforts in key sectors. Electrification and clean energy is a focus in several of the current and planned Compacts.
TDA: The U.S. Trade and Development Agency supports project feasibility and related technical assessment work that support exports by U.S. companies. TDA helps to ensure project soundness and often addresses key regulatory constraints developing a project financing package.

USAID/DCA: USAID has a unique loan guarantee program called the Development Credit Authority that provides partial credit guarantees on a project or portfolio basis with local banks, municipal authorities, or private companies. DCA guarantees support USAID’s development priorities across all sectors including energy, and some specific mechanisms/windows for clean energy have been established. In 2011, DCA completed 37 transactions in 21 countries, which will result in $197 million in private capital for local loans. The leveraging impact of these guarantees on local lending was 16 to 1 in FY11.

Treasury: The U.S. Department of Treasury is the lead USG agency in the provision of clean energy finance to multilateral climate and clean energy funds including the Clean Technology Fund and the Program for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries. The U.S. contribution to these funds in FY11 was approximately $195 million for clean energy activities. In addition, approximately $23.4 million of the Treasury FY2011 GEF contribution went toward clean energy activities.

USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER LEAVES PORT

FROM:  U.S. NAVY
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) departs Naval Station Norfolk for a regularly scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66), the guided-missile destroyers USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, and Destroyer Squadron Two Eight. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Julia A. Casper (Released) 120620-N-RY232-093

HOME CONSTRUCTION COMPANY RESOLVES CLEAN WATER ACT ALLEGED VIOLAIONS

FROM:  U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Home-builder Toll Brothers Inc. to Pay $741,000 Clean Water Act Penalty and Implement Company-Wide Stormwater Controls 
Settlement to prevent millions of pounds of sediment and polluted stormwater runoff from entering U.S. waterways each year
WASHINGTON –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Toll Brothers Inc., one of the nation’s largest homebuilders, will pay a civil penalty of $741,000 to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations at its construction sites, including sites located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Toll Brothers will also invest in a company-wide stormwater compliance program to improve employee training and increase management oversight at all current and future residential construction sites across the nation. The company is required to inspect its current and future construction sites routinely to minimize stormwater runoff from sites. Polluted stormwater runoff and sediment from construction sites can flow directly into the nearest waterway, affecting drinking water quality and damaging valuable aquatic habitats.

“Keeping contaminated stormwater runoff out of the nation’s waterways, like the Chesapeake Bay, is one of EPA’s top priorities,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance and Assurance. “Today’s settlement will improve oversight of stormwater runoff at construction sites across the country and protect America’s waters.”

“This settlement will help protect the nation’s waters from the harmful pollutants contained in stormwater runoff from construction sites,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. “The settlement requires Toll Brothers to implement system-wide management controls and training that will help prevent polluted stormwater runoff from contaminating rivers, lakes and sources of drinking water.”

EPA estimates the settlement will prevent millions of pounds of sediment from entering U.S. waterways every year, including sediment that would otherwise enter the Chesapeake Bay, North America’s largest and most biologically diverse estuary. The bay and its tidal tributaries are threatened by pollution from a variety of sources and are overburdened with nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment that can be carried by stormwater.

The complaint, filed simultaneously with the settlement agreement, alleges over 600 stormwater violations that were discovered through site inspections and by reviewing documentation submitted by Toll Brothers. The majority of the alleged violations involve Toll Brothers’ repeated failures to comply with permit requirements at its construction sites, including requirements to install and maintain adequate stormwater pollution controls.

The Clean Water Act requires permits for the discharge of stormwater runoff. In general, Toll Brothers’ permits require that construction sites have controls in place to prevent pollution from being discharged with stormwater into nearby waterways. These controls include common-sense safeguards such as silt fences, phased site grading and sediment basins to prevent construction contaminants from entering the nation’s waterways.

The settlement requires Toll Brothers to obtain all required permits, develop site-specific pollution prevention plans for each construction site, conduct additional site inspections beyond those required by stormwater regulations, and document and promptly correct any problems. The company must properly train construction managers and contractors on stormwater requirements and designate trained staff for each site. Toll Brothers must also submit national compliance summary reports to EPA based on management oversight inspections and reviews.

This settlement is the latest in a series of enforcement actions to address stormwater violations from residential construction sites around the country. Construction projects have a high potential for environmental harm because they disturb large areas of land and significantly increase the potential for erosion, and stormwater runoff from sites can pick up other pollutants, including concrete washout, paint, used oil, solvents and trash.

The state of Maryland and the commonwealth of Virginia have joined the settlement and will receive a portion of the $741,000 penalty. The settlement includes Toll Brothers sites in
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.

More information about this settlement: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/cwa/tollbrothers.html

Air Force officials announce milestone Atlas V launch

Air Force officials announce milestone Atlas V launch

ESA Portal - United Kingdom - Via satellite: staying in touch at sea

ESA Portal - United Kingdom - Via satellite: staying in touch at sea

FAA & NASA AGREE ON REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL SPACECRAFT

Photo:  Launch Of Commercial Spacecraft SpaceX Dragon To The ISS.    

Credit:  NASA.

FROM:  NASA
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NASA have 
signed a historic agreement to coordinate standards for commercial 
space travel of government and non-government astronauts to and from 
low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station (ISS). The two 
agencies will collaborate to expand efforts that provide a stable 
framework for the U.S. space industry, avoid conflicting requirements 
and multiple sets of standards, and advance both public and crew 
safety. 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the two agencies 
establishes policy for operational missions to the space station. 
Commercial providers will be required to obtain a license from the 
FAA for public safety. Crew safety and mission assurance will be 
NASA's responsibility. This approach allows both agencies to 
incorporate experience and lessons learned as progress is made. 

"This important agreement between the FAA and NASA will advance our 
shared goals in commercial space travel," said U.S. Transportation 
Secretary Ray LaHood. "Working together, we will assure clear, 
consistent standards for the industry." 

"This agreement is the next step in bringing the business of launching 
Americans back to American soil," Charles Bolden, NASA administrator 
said. "We are fostering private sector innovation while maintaining 
high standards of safety and reliability to re-establish U.S.-crewed 
access to low-Earth orbit, in-sourcing work to American companies and 
encouraging the development of dynamic and cost-effective spaceflight 
capabilities built to last." 

"The Obama administration recognizes the scientific, technological and 
economic benefits of maintaining the United States' leadership in 
space travel and exploration," said FAA Acting Administrator Michael 
Huerta. "This agreement between the FAA and NASA continues and 
advances those vital national interests." 

NASA's Commercial Crew Program aims to facilitate development of a 
U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability with the goal of 
achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from 
low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station. The policy 
established in the MOU clarifies for potential commercial providers 
the regulatory environment for operational missions to the orbiting 
laboratory. It also ensures that the two agencies will have 
compatible processes for ensuring public safety. 

The FAA is responsible for regulating and licensing all U.S. private 
companies and individuals involved in commercial space 
transportation. To date, the FAA Office of Commercial Space 
Transportation has licensed 207 successful launches, including two 
non-orbital commercial human space flights in 2004 and the recent 
first launch to the ISS and re-entry of a non-manned commercial 
spacecraft.

U.S.-AFGHANISTAN RELATIONS

Photo:  Sec. Of Defense Leon Panetta Meets With Hamid Karzai.  Credit:  Department Of Defense.
FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
U.S. Relations With Afghanistan
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
Fact Sheet
June 19, 2012
On May 2, 2012, President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed the Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States of America, a 10-year strategic partnership agreement (SPA) that demonstrates the United States’ enduring commitment to strengthen Afghanistan’s sovereignty, stability, and prosperity and continue cooperation to defeat al-Qaida and its affiliates. This agreement also signals the U.S. intent to designate Afghanistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally.

The signing of the SPA marks the culmination of over 10 years of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, supporting the elected government, providing development aid, and stabilizing the country. During that time, the core U.S. goal in Afghanistan has been to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qaida and its affiliates, and to prevent their return to Afghanistan.

At the December 2011 Bonn Conference, the U.S. and other international partners committed to assisting in Afghanistan’s development through 2024. The U.S. continues to support a broad-based government in Afghanistan, representative of all Afghans. Afghan forces have begun taking the lead for security in many areas of the country, and the transition of full security responsibility for Afghanistan from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Afghan forces will be completed by the end of 2014.

U.S. Assistance to Afghanistan
The U.S. has made a long-term commitment to help Afghanistan rebuild itself after years of war. While the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan is transitioning primary security responsibility to Afghan National Security Forces, the United States plans to remain politically, diplomatically, and economically engaged in Afghanistan for the long term. The U.S. and others in the international community currently provide resources and expertise to Afghanistan in a variety of areas, including humanitarian relief and assistance, capacity-building, security needs, counter-narcotic programs, and infrastructure projects.

The United States supports the Afghan Government's goals of focusing on reintegration and reconciliation, economic development, improving relations with Afghanistan’s regional partners, and steadily increasing the security capability of Afghan security forces. The U.S. encourages the Afghan Government to take strong actions to combat corruption and improve governance, and to provide better services for the people of Afghanistan, while maintaining and expanding on the important democratic reforms and advances in women’s rights that have been made since 2001.

Bilateral Economic Relations
Afghanistan has signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States, but a Bilateral Investment Treaty has not been negotiated. There is no Bilateral Taxation Treaty between Afghanistan and the United States.

For 2011, U.S. goods imports from Afghanistan amounted to less than 1% of U.S. goods exports to the country. Efforts are underway to encourage improvements in the business climate to attract foreign trade and investment as well as to stimulate additional trade with the United States through trade capacity development, including through World Trade Organization (WTO) accession.

Afghanistan's Membership in International Organizations
Afghanistan and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Afghanistan also is a Partner for Cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and is working toward accession to the WTO.

GSA SHEDS REAL ESTATE TO SAVE MONEY

FROM:  U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
The Georgetown Heating Plant.  Credit:  GSA
GSA Tackles Excess Property, Saves Taxpayer Dollars
Posted by Linda Chero, Acting Commissioner, GSA’s Public Building Service on June 19th, 2012
The Georgetown Heating Plant is one of the excess properties that GSA will auction this year. :  
Today, GSA’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Real Property Utilization and Disposal Flavio Peres updated Congress on our agency’s efforts to dispose of excess property and save taxpayer dollars. The meeting took place at the Georgetown Heating Plant in Washington, DC, which GSA will auction off this year, saving taxpayer dollars and allowing the property to be returned to productive use for the community. Auctioning this property is just one example of GSA’s ongoing efforts to better manage federal real property.  The Obama Administration is moving aggressively on disposing excess properties to save money and make more efficient use of the government’s real estate assets.

Two years ago, President Obama called on his Administration to save taxpayers billions of dollars by consolidating operations and selling excess federal properties. Recently the White House announced that agencies are on track to save $8 billion in real estate costs by the end of this year.  In fact, Agencies have already achieved more than $5.6 billion in savings, and GSA alone has contributed more than $317 million in savings so far.

In the past year alone, the federal government has sold or transferred 97 properties valued at $82 million.  GSA recently sold the Nome Federal Building in downtown Nome, Alaska, for $1.68 million.  The 27,000-square-foot, two-story building, built in 1958, will now be used as commercial office space.  At the opposite end of the country in Moscow, Maine, GSA auctioned off a 1,425 acre Cold War-era radar site for around $750,000.

GSA has been working tirelessly with all federal landholding agencies to dispose of unneeded properties and since 2002 more than 3,355 federal properties have been taken off the government’s rolls.  But more still needs to be done. Our mission at GSA is to make government more efficient and save money, and as the federal government’s landlord, we will continue to do that by working with agencies to identify and dispose of buildings and facilities that are no longer needed.